Railway car



y 1, 1934. w. E. WINE 1,968,511

RA I LWAY CAR Filed Dec. 1. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. E. WINE RAILWAY CAR July 31, 1934.

Filed Dec. 1, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 31, 1934 UNI D TATES FATE T OFICE RAILWAY CAR 8 Claims.

My invention relates to railway cars and more particularly to improvements in cars of the hopper type.

A principal object of the invention is to pro- Vide the doors for the lading discharge openings of such cars with means which may be secured to the doors in a very rigid manner for cooperating with suitable mechanism carried by the hoppers for respectively maintaining the doors in closed position.

A primary feature of the invention consists in providing a hopper door with a main body portion and with a portion extending inwardly from the main body portion adjacent a side edge of the door, an arm being carried by the door for cooperating with mechanism to maintain the latter in closed position, the arm having offset portions respectively secured to the main body portion and the inwardly extending portion of the door.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing a hopper door with a main body portion and with a portion extending inwardly from the latter adjacent a side of the door, and in providing an arm having portions respectively secured to the main body portion and inwardly extending portion of the door, said arm having an upstanding flange substantially normal to the plane of the adjacent side sheet of the hopper and projecting beyond the side edge of the door for cooperating with a hook pivotally mounted on the side of the hopper whereby the door may be supported in closed position.

Other and more specific features of the invention residing in advantageous forms, combina tions and relations of parts will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of the lower portion of substantially one half of a railway hopper car.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the portion of the car illustrated in Figure 1, as viewed from the left hand side of that figure.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 33, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 44, Figure 2, the view being taken in the plane of the outer side sheet of the hopper.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5-5, Figure 3, the view being taken in the plane of the inner side sheet.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the door adjacent the outer side edge thereof,

the door arm and the adjacent portion of the spreader being shown in elevation.

Figure '7 is a front elevational view of the construction illustrated in Figure 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings: 1 indicates the center sill of the car, and 2 the side sill. The center sill may be advantageously formed with a substantially vertical web 3, an inwardly projecting top flange 4 and inwardly and outwardly projecting bottom flanges 5 and 6 respectively. The side sill 2 is preferably of angle shape and has an upwardly projecting substantially vertical flange '7 and an inwardly extending substantially horizontal flange 8.

The car chosen for purposes of illustration is of the type having hoppers arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the center sill and it is to be understood that the construction illustrated in Figure 1 is duplicated on the opposite side of the center sill and that the door shown is but one of a pair which are connected by a stiffening member or spreader so as to swing as one.

The hopper is formed primarily by inner and outer side sheets 9 and 10 respectively, and an inclined floor or slope sheet 11. The upper portion of the outer side sheet 10 extends above the horizontal flange 8 of the side sill and terminates in a substantially vertical flange 12 for attachment to the corresponding flange of the side sill while the lower portion of the sheet terminates in an inwardly extending flange 13 which is adapted to underlie the outer edge portion of the slope sheet for attachment thereto. As may be observed, and as is usual, the outer side sheet inclines downwardly and inwardly so as to be disposed within the clearance limits prescribed by standard railroad practice.

The inner side sheet 9 is provided with a substantially vertical portion 14 which extends downwardly from adjacent the outer edge of the flange 6 of the center sill and with an inclined portion 15 which extends upwardly from adjacent this flange and terminates in a substantially vertical flange 16 for attachment to the upper portion of the web 3 of the center sill. Like the outer side sheet the lower edge of the inner one terminates in a flange 17 which underlies and is secured to the adjacent portion of the slope sheet 11.

Rigidly secured to the hopper at the discharge end thereof is a door frame 18 which may advantageously be formed as an integral casting. The frame is preferably of substantially trapezoidal form and is provided with inwardly projecting inner and outer flanges 19 and 20, respectively, for attachment to the inner and outer side sheets of the hopper and with a portion 21 for attachment to the slope sheet 11. The outer flange of the frame inclines downwardly and inwardly similarly to the outer side sheet of the hopper while the inner flange has a substantially vertical lower portion and an inclined upper portion similar to corresponding portions of the inner side sheet. The door frame is formed with a cargo or lading discharge opening of substantially rectangular shape thereby providing between the outer side edge of the opening and the outer flange 20 a triangular downwardly tapering plate-like portion 22. By this means the outer portion of the door frame is provided with suitable strength and rigidity. To rigidity and strengthen the lower portion of the door frame the inner edge of the portion 21 thereof may be conveniently formed with a downwardly projecting flange 23 and to strengthen rigidiiy the inner portion of the frame the flange 19 is provided with a laterally projecting flange 24. In order that the inner portion of the frame may be interposed between the center sill 1 and the inner side sheet 9 of the hopper for attachment to the latter, the discharge end of the sheet is formed with offset portions to provide a flange This flange is formed with a substantially vertical portion 26 which is spaced a greater dis" tance from the center sill thanthe vertical portion 14 of the main body of the sheet and an inclined upper portion 27 which extends upwardly at a greater angle to the vertical than the in clined portion 15 of the main body of the sheet. The oflset portions of the inner side sheet also include relatively inclined portions 28 and 29 which respectively connect the vertical and inclined portions of the flange to the correspondinging portions of the main body of the sheet. As may be observed the inclined portion 29 progressively decreases in width from adjacent the lower edge of the inclined portion 27 of the flange to the upper edge thereof, and each of the portions 26 and 27 of the flange is disposed in planes parallel with the longitudinal axis of the car. By providing the inner side sheet of the hopper with inwardly offset portions which include a flange having a vertical and an inclined portion disposed in planes parallel with the longitudinal axis or the car and spaced a greater distance from the center sill than corresponding portions of the main body of the sheet, it will be appreciated that the inner portion of the frame may be easily and conveniently secured to the inner side sheet and at the same time formed with suitable reinforcing means preventing distortion of this portion of the frame.

The portion of the frame above the lading discharge opening is formed with a plate portion 30 which is secured to an adjacent cross ridge sheet 31 of the car. The upper portion of the frame may be conveniently reinforced by an outwardly projecting flange 32, the central portion of which may terminate in a downwardly extending rib 33. Bordering the side and lower edges of the lading discharge opening are outwardly projecting flanges 34 which are preferably formed integral with the frame and are adapted to cooperate with portions of the door to be hereinafter described.

The lading discharge opening of the hopper is adapted to be closed by a door 35 which is hingedly connected to the frame by pintles 36. These pintles pass through lugs 37 which may be formed integral with the door and are carried by hinge butts 38 integral with the plate portion 30 and flange 32 of the frame. The door is formed with a main body portion 39 which is spaced outwardly from the plane of the lading discharge opening and with portions 40, which extend inwardly therefrom adjacent the margins of the door. The inwardly extending portions 40 are each offset to provide an abutment 41 adapted to engage the outer edge of the adjacent flange 34 of the door frame and to provide marginal flanges 42 adapted to overlap the outer face of the latter to prevent the escape of fine lading from the hopper. The spreader or stiiiening member employed for connecting the doors on opposite sides of the center sill may be conveniently formed in Z-shape and has a flange i3 rigidly secured to the outer face of the main body portion 39 of the door.

The mechanism for supporting the door in closed position involves an arm 4.4 carried by the door and a hook 45 pivotally mounted on the hopper. The hook is provided with a locking shoulder or ledge 46 and its pivotal axis is substantially normal to the outer side sheet 10 of the hopper. If desired, a cover plate 47 provided with a fulcruming aperture 48, may overlap the outer face of the hook and be secured to the outer flange 20 of the door frame by a plurality of rivets 49, and 51. The rivet 49 may serve as a pivotal support for the hook and the rivet 50 may serve as a similar support for a cam 52 which may be conveniently employed for securing the hook in door supporting position.

The door arm 44 may be of substantially channel shape having a web 53 and inner and outer upwardly projecting flanges 54 and 55 respectively. The web 53 is rigidly secured by rivets 56 to the web 57 of the 2-shaped spreader in overlapping relation to its upper face. The flange 54 of the door arm is integrally formed with a plurality of offset portions one of which, designated 58, is secured by a rivet 59 to the main body portion of the door and the flange 43 of the spreader, while the other of which. desi nated so, is secured by a rivet 61 to the adjacent inwardly extending portion t of the door. The door arm extends beyond the outer side edge of the door and the outer side sheet of the hopper to cooperate with the door supporting hook 45. The portion of the flange 54 of the arm which extends beyond the outer side sheet of the hopper, designated by the reference numeral 62, is disposed in a plane parallel with the pivotal axis of the hook and normal to the plane of the outer side sheet so as to cooperate with the shoulder 46 of the hook. By forming this portion of the flange 54 in the manner described it will be appreciated that there will be no tendency of the hook to move or creep along the flange and thereby enable the door to move slightly open. Moreover, by providing the door and arm with offset portions which may be rigidly connected, the arm will be firmly held in place on the door and the attaching rivets 58 and will not be subjected to as great a strain as would be the case if both of them passed through the main body portion of the door.

I claim:

1. In combination with a railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a hingedly mounted door for closing said opening, said door having a main body portion spaced outwardly from the plane of the lading discharge opening and a portion extending inwardly from said body portion adjacent a side edge of the door, and an arm carried by the door for cooperating with mechanism to maintain the door in closed position, said arm having offset portions respectively secured to said portions of the door.

2. In combination with a railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a hingedly mounted door for closing said opening, said door having a main body portion and a portion extending inwardly from the latter adjacent a side edge of the door, a reinforcing member secured to the outer face of the door, and an arm carried by the door and projecting beyond said side edge of the door for cooperating with mechanism to maintain the door in closed position, said arm being secured in overlapping relation to the reinforcing member at a point inwardly of said side edge of the door and being integrally provided with offset portions respectively secured to said main body portion of the door and said inwardly projecting portion thereof.

3. In combination with a railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a hingedly mounted door for closing said opening, said door having a main body portion and a portion extending inwardly from the latter adjacent a side edge of the door, a reinforcing member secured to the outer face of the door and terminating adjacent the said side edge thereof, and an arm secured to said reinforcing member and projecting beyond the said edge of the door for cooperating with mechanism adapted to support the door in closed position, said arm being provided with offset portions respectively secured to the said body portion and in wardly extending portion of the door.

4. In combination with a railway car having a. hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a hingedly mounted door for closing said opening, said door having a main body portion and a portion extending inwardly from the latter adjacent a side edge of the door, said inwardly extending portion terminating in a flange adapted to overlap an adjacent portion of the hopper to prevent the escape of lading from the hopper, and an arm having oiTset portions respectively secured to said main body portion and said inwardly extending portion of the door, said arm being adapted to cooperate with mechanism for supporting the door in closed position.

5. In combination with a railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, said hopper being provided with outwardly projecting flanges bordering the sides of said opening, a hingedly mounted door for closing said opening, said door having a main body portion and portions respectively extending inwardly from the latter adjacent the side edges of the door, each of said inwardly extending portions being offset intermediate its ends and being provided with a marginal flange adapted to overlap the adjacent flange of the hopper, and an arm carried by the door for cooperating with mechanism to maintain the door in closed position, said arm having offset portions respectively secured to the main body portion of the door and. to one f the inwardly extending portions thereof.

6. In combination with a railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a hingedly mounted door for closing said discharge opening, said door having a main body portion and portions respectively extending inwardly from the latter adjacent the side edges of the door, each of said inwardly extending portions being offset to provide an abutment adapted to cooperate with an adjacent portion of the hopper to limit closing movement of the door, and an arm carried by the door adapted to cooperate with mechanism for maintaining the door in closed position, said arm being integrally provided with portions respectively secured to the main body portion of the door and to one of the inwardly extending portions thereof.

'7. In combination with a railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a hingedly mounted door for closing said opening, said door having a main body portion and a portion extending inwardly from the latter adjacent a side edge of the door, and an arm carried by the door adapted to cooperate with mechanism for maintaining the door in closed position, said arm having an upstanding flange rigidly secured to the said portions of the door, said flange having a portion projecting beyond the adjacent side edge of the door and disposed in a plane substantially normal to the adjacent side of the hopper.

8. In combination with a railway car having a hopper provided with a lading discharge opening, a hingedly mounted door for closing said opening, said door having a main body portion and a portion extending inwardly therefrom adjacent a side edge of the door, and mechanism for maintaining the door in closed position involving a hook pivotally mounted upon the hopper and an arm carried by the door, said arm having offset portions respectively secured to the main body portion and inwardly extending portion of the door and being also provided with a flange engageable with said hook, said flange being disposed in a plane substantially parallel with the pivotal axis of the hook.

WILLIAM E. WINE. 

